Aussies conquer Final Frontier

Australia recorded its first Test series victory in India after 35 years, defeating the hosts by mammoth 342 runs on Day 4 of the third Test at Nagpur, thus regaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Set an improbable target of 543, as the Aussies declared their second innings at 329/5, the Indians crumbled to 200 all out, lasting less hardly two sessions, while as many as five were required to be lasted for.

Jason Gillespie was the tormentor again, picking up 4/24, and thus ending with match figures of 9/80 - his best in Test cricket. He was ably supported by Glenn McGrath, playing in his 100th Test, and the Shane Warne, the highest wicket-taker in Tests, both of whom picked up two wickets each.

India's top order failed miserably yet again, before the tail enders put up some sort of a fight in a lost cause. The opening pair, a different one from that in the last match didn't click, as Aakash Chopra, who was given an opportunity ahead of Yuvraj Singh, fell cheaply for 1. The captain Rahul Dravid followed soon, dismissed in the same fashion - bowled off Gillespie - for 2, leaving the home side reeling at 9/2.

Sachin Tendulkar, who made his comeback in the first innings after a three-month break, too didn't last long, falling with the Indian score at 20/3. He fell to a well thought plan of McGrath and Australia captain Adam Gilchrist's, that employing a short point fielding position, where he tried to score most of his runs. It worked to perfection, as he edged a rising delivery to that region, where Martyn's safe hands ensured that the Aussies see his back.

The out-of-form VVS Laxman and India's most steady looking batsman in the series Mohammed Kaif, both were accounted for by Michael Kasprowicz, who within the first two overs of his spell had the former caught off a short arm hook at fine leg, and the latter behind the wickets off a brilliant catch by Gilchrist. At this stage, the Indians found themselves tottering at 37/5.

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Australia 398 ao and 329/5 decl
SM Katich 99, DR Martyn 97, MJ Clarke 73
India 185 ao and 200 ao
V Sehwag 58, AB Agarkar 44*, JN Gillespie 4/24

Australia beat India by 342 runs to win the third Test and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2-0, with one Test left to play.

Posted by Sudeep